Applicator tip



March 22, 1966 s. SHAPIRO APPLICATOR TIP Filed Jan. 2, 1964 United States Patent 3,241,176 APPLICATOR TIP Samuel Shapiro, R0. Box 365, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Filed Jan. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 334,993 7 Claims. (Cl. -555) This invention relates to improvements in applicator tips for dispensing packages or other dispensing or applying means for materials, including such materials as paste type shoe polish, floor wax, and the like, which may be dispensed and applied in a manner similar to the manner in which paste type wax materials may be dispensed and applied.

In applying shoe polish from the common bulk-type can, it is ditficult to apply the polish to the surfaces of the shoes without particles of polish falling onto the floors or rugs, or to prevent polish from being smeared on fingers or floors. Similarly, in applying shoe polish from a collapsible tube, it is diificult to prevent polish from being smeared on fingers or floors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby paste type shoe polish may be conveniently applied to the surfaces of shoes without special care being necessary to prevent polish from being inadvertently applied to fingers or floors.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means whereby paste type floor wax may be easily applied to the surfaces of floors requiring polish, with the polish remaining easily under control during the process of application.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide means whereby such application of shoe polish, floor wax, and the like, may be applied as required, directly from a suitable dispensing package.

The novel applicator tip of the invention consists essentially of a foraminous applicator-sack secured in close proximity to the outboard face of a suction-cup-like component, in such manner that pressure on the suction-cuplike component expedites the passage of paste type wax materials through the foraminous component and onto a surface frictionally contacted by the foraminous component.

The suction-cup-like component may be comprised of a relatively firm backing, in conjunction with suitable flange-type components.

Only a small amount of polish is usually present on the outer surface of the foraminous component at a given time, and this is usually only separable from the cloth covering by the direct contact or movement of the outer surface of the foraminous component against a suitable surface, so that the dissemination of small particles of polish is thus forestalled, and the accidental spilling of a greater or lesser part of the contents prevented. The foraminous component thus serves as a combined restraining and applying means for paste type wax materials and the like.

The invention accordingly comprises the novel means, exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and fairly coming within the scope of the accompanying claims, by which good quality paste type wax materials and the like may be applied as described, as well as devices or components of devices possessing the novel features or constructions or combination or relation of components or elements also exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and also fairly coming within the scope of the accompanying claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying non-limiting examples of embodiments of the in- 3,241 ,176 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 vention, which have been chosen for illustrative purposes only, and which are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating another preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention. The numeral 10 designates an applicator-sack of foraminous material. Applicator-sack 10 may be fabricated out of a suitable cloth such as that used for sugar sacks, or any other suitable cloth or material, or combination thereof. The numeral designates a relatively firm backing which may consist of integrally formed flanges surrounding a flexible backing in such a manner as to resemble a suctiou-cup-like component. The suction-cup-like component or backing 20 may be fabricated out of any suitable rubber or plastic 01' other suitable material. The numeral designates a relatively rigid hollow tube, resembling a portion of a drinking straw made up out of rigid material. The tube 30 may be fabricated out of suitable metallic tubing or other material or materials. The numeral designates a suitable plunger rod, which may be fabricated out of balsa Wood or other soft wood or cork, or any other suitable material or materials. The numeral 12 designates the ends of the foramious material of applicatorsack 10. The numeral 22 designates the shoulder of suction-cup-like component 20. Suction-cup-like component 20, including shoulder 22, is preferably fabricated out of suitably resilient elastic-like material, and shoulder 22 is preferably a close fit, very tight up against that portion of the foraminous material of applicator-sack 10 secured between shoulder portion 22 and the rigid tubing 30. The tube 30 should contain shot polish or other paste type wax material, for either its entire length, or part of it, preferably only in the lower two-thirds or less, and plunger rod 40, which should be a snug fit inside of the inner walls of tube 30, would either rest in the top portion of tube 30, ready to be pushed down further into tube 30, in order to drive the shoe polish or other paste type wax material downward and into the applicator-sack 10, or the rod 40 might be kept separate from the tube 30 until required for use.

In using an embodiment of the type shown in FIG. 1 in applying a coat of polish, it is only necessary to remove the embodiment from the airtight package or container in which it should normally be stored until such time as it is to be put directly into use, in order to protect the contents against drying out, and to insert rod 40 into the end of tube 30, and to push downward on rod 40, so as to force the contents, stored in hollow tube 30, downwards and into the applicator-sack 10. The embodiment is then pressed against the surface to be coated, in such a manner as to put the foraminous applicatorsack 10 into frictional contact with the surface to be coated, and to then use a reasonably firm and gentle smearing or spreading motion. Depending on the type of cloth or other foraminous material used, the polish would start to coat the surface to which it is applied either at once, or after a few back and forth motions, during which time it would be worked through more restricting material.

Before applying a coating of polish, it is of course necessary to first prepare the surfaces to be polished by removing any foreign matter such as dust, mud, and the like, just the same as would ordinarily be required before applying paste type stain or wax polish by ordinary means.

Most of the time, shoes requiring only a superficial dusting before the application of polish may be cleaned merely by buffing them lightly with the same soft cloth which will be used to impart a shine after the shoes have been coated with polish, and in this case, if the cloth is clean to begin with, it is easily possible to complete the entire process, including the preliminary dusting, the application of a suitable coating of polish, and the shining, in a very few minutes, without a trace of polish being left on the fingers or anywhere else except as intended.

A soft paper tissue of the large size commonly sold in drugstores and supermarkets may be used instead of a cloth to clean and shine the shoes, although this may have to be replaced several times in the shining of a single pair of shoes, with each tissue being discarded as it becomes soiled and worn, in order to thus keep the fingers always in contact with a clean tissue. I

In order to apply paste type wax materials to larger surface areas, such as floors, it would of course be necessary to enlarge all components proportionately, in order that the applicator-sack and suction-cup-like component be as large as conveniently possible, in order that larger areas might be covered with polish more easily. The action of the backing would however be the same, in helping to force the polish through the foraminous component, and in applying pressure on the polish in a downward direction, so that the polish is under pressure between the backing and the surface to be coated. The action of the backing and the applicator-sack is such however, that overhead surfaces could be coated just as effectively as those at lower levels.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating another preferred em bodiment of the invention. The numeral 100 designates an applicator-sack of foraminous material. The numeral 290 designates a suction-cup-like backing component. The numeral 500 designates a stern component which may be fabricated out of wood or any other suitable material. Section-cup-like component 200, including shoulder 202, is preferably fabricated out of a suitable material having resilient elasticlike properties, such as a suitable rubber or plastic, and shoulder 202 is preferably a close fit, quite tight up against that portion of the foraminous material of applicator-sack 100 secured between shoulder portion 202 and stem component 500. The material to be applied is stored in sack 100.

In using an embodiment of the type shown in FIG. 2, it is only necessary to remove the embodiment from the airtight package or container in which it should normally be stored until such time as it is to be put directly into use, and to press the applicator-sack against the surface to be coated, in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1.

While certain changes may be necessary or desirable for commercial production and marketing, such changes are believed to be beyond the scope necessary to a complete disclosure of the present invention.

Since certain changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim.

1. An applying means, comprising, a supporting structure means having two ends, a foraminous means loosely covering a perforated end of said supporting structure means and adapted to receive and allow passage of material to be applied by the applying means, and a flexible backing means attached to the same perforated end of said applying means in close association with and partly enclosing said foraminous means in such manner that pressure on said flexible backing means causes pressure of said backing means against said foraminous means so as to assist the passage of material through said foraminous means to coat against a surface contacted by said foraminous means.

2. An applying means, comprising, a supporting structure means having two ends, a foraminous means loosely covering a perforated end of said supporting structure means and adapted to receive and allow passage of material supplied by way of said supporting structure means, and a flexible backing means attached to the same perforated end of said applying means in close association with and partly enclosing said foraminous means in such manner that pressure on said flexible backing means causes pressure of said backing means against said foraminous means so as to assist the passage of material through said foraminous means to coat against a surface contacted by said foraminous means.

3. A tubular container having two ends and adapted to contain a paste type coating material, a slideable follower fitted in one open end of said tubular container so as to exert pressure on said coating material when slid inwardly thereagainst, foraminous means loosely covering the other open end of said tubular container and adapted to receive and be permeated by the coating material forced out of said tubular container by the pressure of said slideable follower, and a tubular resilient backing means attached to said other open end of said container in close association with and partly enclosing said foraminous means in such a manner that pressure on said resilient backing means causes flexing of said backing means against said foraminous means so as to assist the passage of material through said foraminous means and coat a surface contacted by said foraminous means.

4. A flexible containing means having a discharge end and adapted to retain a paste type material to be dispensed, foraminous means loosely covering a discharge end of said containing means and adapted to receive and allow passages of the material to be dispensed out of said containing means upon the application of pressure to the containing means, and a flexible backing means attached to the same end of said containing means in close association with and partly enclosing said foraminous means in such manner that pressure on said backing means causes pressure of said backing means against said foraminous means so as to assist the passage of material through said foraminous means to coat against a surface contacted by said foraminous means.

5. A common collapsible tube type container for pastelike materials, having an open end, a foraminous means loosely covering said open end of said tube container and adapted to receive and allow passage of material dispensed from said open end of said container, and a flexible backing means attached to the said end of said container in close association with and partly enclosing said foraminous means in such manner that pressure on said flexible backing means causes pressure of said backing means against said foraminous means so as to assist the passage of material through said foraminous means to coat against a surface contacted by said foraminous means.

6. A retaining means having two ends and adapted to contain a solid wax type material to be dispensed, an advanceable bearing surface means fitted in one open end of said retaining means so as to exert pressure on said material to be dispensed when advanced inwardly thereagainst, foraminous means loosely covering the other open end of said retaining means and adapted to receive and allow passage of the material to be dispensed out of said retaining means by the pressure of said advanceable bearing surface means, and a flexible backing means attached to said other open end of said container in close association with and partly enclosing said foraminous means in such manner that pressure on said flexible backing means causes pressure of said backing means against said foraminous means to coat against a surface contacted by said foraminous means.

7. In an applying means, a supporting structure means having a perforated end, foraminons means loosely covering said end and adapted to receive and allow passage of material to be applied by the applying means, and a flexible backing means secured to the same end in close association With and partly enclosing said foran1inous means in such manner that pressure on said backing means causes pressure of said backing means against said foraminous means so as to assist the passage of material through said foraminous means to coat against a surface contacted by said foraminous means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,961,677 11/1960 Zecchini 15-561 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPLYING MEANS, COMPRISING, A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE MEANS HAVING TWO ENDS, A FORAMINOUS MEANS LOOSELY COVERING A PERFORATED END OF SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE MEANS AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND ALLOW PASSAGE OF MATERIAL TO BE APPLIED BY THE APPLYING MEANS, AND A FLEXIBLE BACKING MEANS ATTACHED TO THE SAME PERFORATED END OF SAID APPLYING MEANS IN CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH AND PARTLY ENCLOSING SAID FORAMINOUS MEANS IN SUCH MANNER THAT PRESSURE ON SAID FLEXIBLE BACKING MEANS CAUSES PRESSURE OF SAID BACKING MEANS AGAINST SAID FORAMINOUS MEANS SO AS TO ASSIST THE PASSAGE OF MATERIAL THROUGH SAID FORAMINOUS MEANS TO CAOT AGAINST A SURFACE CONTACTED BY SAID FORAMINOUS MEANS. 